Method of and means for treating bobbin threads or the like



Aug. 10, 1954 OSEMAN 2,686,017

L. R METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR TREATING BOBBIN THREADS OR THE LIKE Filed Jan. 23, 1951 Zea Fosengam Patented Aug. 10, 1954 OFFICE METHOD OF AND MEA BOBBIN THREAD NS FOR TREATING S'OR THE LIKE Leo Roseman, Newark, N. J. Application January 23, 1951, Serial No. 207,297,

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to the treatment of threads or the like, for example to apply a substance to the threads for changing the physical characteristics of the thread such as friction producing properties or the thickness. Threads of this nature may be used for many different purposes, for example as described in my Patents Nos. 2,526,279 dated October 17, 1950 and 2,530,841 dated November 21, 1950, to cooperate with mechanism for actuating a signal to indicate the approaching exhaustion of the bobbin thread or to stop the sewing machine wherein the thread is used.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of and means for treating the thread or the like so as to change the physical characteristics of the thread at a predetermined point in its length, which method and means shall be simple, inexpensive and reliable.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bobbin with means for treating or conditioning a portion of a thread or yarn wound thereupon, so that the conditioned portion may be used for any desired purpose.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bobbin with meaans for uniformly applying a friction-producing substance to a terminal end or portion of the thread or yarn during the winding of the thread upon the bobbin. i

Another object of the invention is to provide a bobbin with a substance for treating the thread thereon for causing a change in the physical properties of said thread at a predetermined point in the length of the thread, so that the variation in physical properties may be utilized for any desired purpose, for example, to actuate mechanism for indicating the approaching exhaustionof the bobbin thread or for stopping the sewing machine wherein the bobbin is in use.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the description thereof to follow taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which-- Figure 1 is a side elevational and sectional view of a sewing machine bobbin embodying one form of my invention and. showing a thread treated in accordance with the present invention in operative friction engaging position between the bobbin case and its tension spring.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the bobbin removed from its case, parts being shown broken away.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken through the core of a bobbin embodying a modified form of the invention.

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of a bobbin embodying another modified form of the invention.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the form shown in Figure 3, taken on the plane of the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a plan view of a bobbin embodying still another modification of the invention.

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the bobbin of Figure 6, parts being broken away.

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of yet another modification of the invention, parts being broken away.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 99 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is an enlarged detail view showing a fragment of a thread or yarn treated in accordance with the present invention.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, the invention is shown embodied in a winding bobbin I such as is used in a known type of lock stitch sewing machine. The bobbin is mounted in a case 2. On the periphery of the case, a movable tension spring 3 is secured and arranged in the ordinary manner for moving a movable contact (not shown) of an electrical circuit whereby an electrical circuit is closed for actuating a signal or the like.

The bobbin is formed of metal and comprises a winding core 4 having a flange 5 suitably fastened to each end. An axial bore 6 extending through the core accommodates a shaft or the like for rotating the bobbin.

A thread or yarn 1 is adapted to be wound about the core in layers of superimposed convolutions until it reaches the upper or substantially reaches the outer edges of the flanges. The flanges serve as end abutments for the thread. From the bobbin the thread passes out through an opening 8 in the bobbin case and then passes beneath the tension spring 3 and beyond to the work.

It is the practice to utilize the thread to actuate the tension spring 3 and various ways have been suggested in my Patent 2,530,841 for doing this, such as applying a friction-producing substance, for example, wax or the like, to the thread, or by passing a convolution or convolutions of the thread through a friction-producing element on the bobbin during the winding of the thread.

The present invention is concerned with novel means for applying a friction-producing substance to a portion of the thread. According to the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, the periphery or outer surface of the core 4 of the bobbin is coated with a layer of wax 9 or other similar friction-producing substance, such as soap, crayons and the like. The terminal end of the thread is positioned on the periphery of the core at one end thereof in the usual manner and the bobbin rotated as usual so that the thread will be wound spirally around the coated core until the length of the core is completely covered with a layer of convolutions of the thread. These convolutions will become embedded in the wax on the core and upon continued winding the following layers of convolutions of thread will besuperimposed upon the embedded layer but willbe free of the wax.

Upon the unwinding or feeding out of the thread from the bobbin, the main portion of the thread will pass underneath the tension spring 3 without moving the same, but when the portion of the thread treated with the wax, such as indicated at ill, passesunderneath the tension spring, the increased friction between said spring and said portion of the thread caused by the adhering wax will increase the tension of the thread, or if the thickness of the thread is increased bythe wax, the spring 3 will be moved outwardly away from the bobbin case and into engagement with the movable contact of the switch in the electrical circuit thereby closing the circuit and effecting actuation of a signal or the like to indicate that the thread is approaching its end or to indicate some other happening.

The form of bobbin shown in Figures 3 and 5 is generally like that shown in Figures 1 and 2, but in this form the layer of wax H or the like is placed on the inner surface of each bobbin flange 5, adjacent the core instead of on the periphery of the core. The end convolutions of the first layer of convolutions of thread on the core will contact the wax and become coated with the wax. Thus the thread will become coated at spaced lengths, adjacent its terminal end and when such coated lengths pass underneath the tension spring 3 it will be moved to operative positionfor causing a signal.

The bobbin shown inthe modification of Figure 4 is similar to that of Figures 1 and 2 but the core thereof is provided with a knurled or roughened surface or periphery 12 so that the wax [3 will more readily cling thereto.

. In Figures 6 and '7, another modification of the invention is illustrated comprising a bobbin formed of cardboard or similar material and having a core 14 and end flanges l5. In this form, a spot E6 of wax or the like is placed on the periphery or outer surface of the core, adjacent one of the flanges, so that only a short reach of the bobbin thread will become spotted or coated with the wax.

The modified form of bobbin shown in Figures 8 and 9 is formed of cardboard or similar material and comprises a core I! and end flanges I8. In this form spaced annular bands or rings IQ of 4 wax or the like are coated around the periphery of the core of the bobbin whereby the thread upon being wound on the core contacts said waxed bands at spaced lengths therealong.

In all of the modifications of the invention illustrated, the invention is basically the same. The friction-producing wax will be transferred from the bobbin to the thread when the thread is wound upon the core of the bobbin and such transferred wax will increase the tension of the thread at the points of contact and cause the thread to move the tension spring when it passes thereunder.

' Changes in details of construction might be made without departing from the spirit of the invention;

What I claim is:

1. In the winding of a bobbin thread upon a bobbin, the step of changing the friction-producing characteristics ofa portion of the length of said bobbin thread, said step comprising applying to a bobbin in the path of the thread as the thread is wound upon the bobbin a friction-producing substance that will be transferred to the thread by contact and will provide for unhindered unwinding of the thread, and thereafter winding thread upon said bobbin.

2. A sewing machine bobbin having a core, flanges on the end of said core and a transferable thread treating substance on a surface of one of said elements/that is engaged by a portion of a thread during winding of the thread on the bobbin whereby said substance will be transferred to said portion of said thread, the outer surface of said core being roughened and said thread treating substance being a coating applied to said roughened surface.

3. A sewing machine bobbin having a core, flanges on the end of said core and a transferable thread treating substance 'on a surface of one of said elements that is engaged by a portion of a thread during winding of the threadon the bobbin whereby said substance will be transferred to said portion of said thread, said thread treating substance being a spot of wax on the outer surface of the core.

4. A sewing machine bobbin having a core, flanges on the end of said core and a transferable thread treating substance on a surface of one of said elements that isengaged by a portionof a thread during winding of the thread on the bobbin whereby said substance will be transferredto said portion of said thread, said thread treating substance comprising spaced single bands of Wax on the outer surface of the core.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

